Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Los Angeles Drivers Put to the Test…

Blog week of July 17th 

10 Mile Weekend Shutdown of Busiest Freeway in the U.S.

When one thinks of Los Angeles, warm weather, beautiful beaches, and Hollywood come to mind.  As attractive as these features of LA are, the city’s reputation is often overshadowed by how frustrating it can be to travel even short distances.  Drivers are notoriously known for being heavily reliant on freeways, and with a lack of comprehensive and efficient alternatives, traffic relief is not promising for the near future.


It is no wonder that a weekend closure of a 10 mile stretch of Interstate 405, the nation’s busiest freeway, was cause for concern.  With a long stretch of freeway closed during the weekend of July 16, a freeway segment that over half a million drivers depend on every day, there should have been a nightmare traffic gridlock in the surrounding area, right?  In the city known as the “freeway Mecca,” the general expectation was that we would witness an event dubbed as “Carmageddon.”


However, as the LA Times staff points out, there were similar traffic concerns back when Los Angeles hosted the 1984 Summer Olympics…and traffic was “a breeze.”  History does indeed repeat itself and once again Los Angeles drivers have proven that when given proper incentive, they can manage to utilize other means of transportation en masse (or at least decide to leave their cars at home).


If told to stay off the roads for a reason like Carmageddon, or anything else, what would you do?  Many people stayed home and had family time or block parties.  Some went to parks or nearby attractions to enjoy themselves, and found a new way to have fun.  These guys even had a candle-lit dinner on the deserted highway.




There was also a noted increase in the use of mass transit, some estimate a 10-15% jump in ridership during the shutdown.  While an area as large as Los Angeles requires an extensive mass transit system, the bulk of its operations are road based buses, which in the event of a shutdown of a road, such as the 405, would hamper its operations as well, or the buses would be subject to the same traffic headaches as other cars given open roads.  A more comprehensive and efficient mass transit system would help matters, however in a sprawling city like Los Angeles, distances can be too hard to tame.


Now imagine if drivers in the Los Angeles metro area found incentive to drive less daily.  Carbon emissions in the area would greatly reduce, gas prices would relax, less road maintenance would be necessary, and travel would be less stressful.  I’m sure that you can come up with other ensuing benefits from a decreased dependence on freeways.  However, the fact remains that until drivers are offered extensive and reliable alternatives, the status quo will remain intact.


One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs.  Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green.  We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.


Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP



Wednesday, July 13, 2011

The debate over the incandescent light bulb…

Blog week of July 10th

Opponents claim that current light bulb laws are anything but bright...

In 2007, Congress passed an energy act that requires light bulb manufacturers to upgrade the efficiencies of their products.  This act is part of an extensive federal movement to encourage Americans to use resources – in particular energy, more wisely.  While most agree that the intent behind the initiative is good, some lawmakers believe that the method behind the 2007 legislation wrongfully prevents consumers from buying traditional, cheap incandescent bulbs.

The Republican coalition is led by Texas representative Joe Barton, who argues that personal liberties are at stake as a result of the law and that the federal government must be mindful of the ideological implications of its actions with respect to the Constitution.  The so-called Barton bill is currently circulating in the House and its proponents point out that alternatives, such as CFL and LED light bulbs, cost much more than traditional incandescent bulbs and that some even pose health risks with their mercury content.

Democrats assert that consumers will save money, despite the extra cost of fluorescent and LED bulbs, because the efficiency of these bulbs will be accounted for in immediate savings on energy bills, not to mention the overall longevity of the lighting source compared to tradition incandescent bulbs.  Additionally, opponents of the Barton bill contend that the small concentration of mercury in compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and advances in technology, make any perceived health threat negligible.  The Obama administration officially opposes the bill because it would repeal measures that encourage technological innovation, increase employment, and reduced emissions.

If the 2007 act remains intact, 100-watt light bulbs will no longer be available for purchase from most vendors after January 1st, 2012.  75 watt, 60 watt and 40 watt bulbs will follow suit within the next three years following the January 1st threshold. For comparison sake – that 60-watt incandescent bulb (the most popular kind) can be replaced by a 13-watt compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), or a 4-watt LED light bulb. In addition to the impressive wattage savings of 47 and 56 watts respectively, most CFL light bulbs have a 10,000-hour lifetime, compared to just the 1,000-hour lifetime of an incandescent bulb. Furthermore, LED light bulbs have an amazing 50,000-hour lifetime, meaning it will last up to 50 times longer than the traditional incandescent bulb! While the up-front costs are obviously more than the incandescent bulb, the long-term investment is certainly well worth it by both the amount of energy the bulb consumes as well as its relatively long life span. With technology and demand increasing daily, the type of CFL and LED bulbs being produced are becoming more diverse, offering more choices for consumers at even lower prices. With the government as a driver, the prices for these advanced lighting technologies will soon reach market parity in that it will cost the same as traditionally inefficient incandescent bulbs. Sounds like a bright idea to me!

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs.  Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green.  We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP 

one stop green House Representatives incandescent bulbs energy act Joe Barton bill efficient LED health risks mercury fluorescent Obama administration innovation employment emissions 2007 100 watts January 1st

Monday, July 4, 2011

Cooking Green! And We Don't Mean Green Meat

Blog Week of July 3rd

Remember that old adage, ‘if you can’t take the heat, get out the kitchen?’ Now it’s, ‘if you can’t take the heat, just get an induction burner!’

We all remember that old saying, “If you can’t take the heat, then get out of the kitchen?” Although often applied to real life situations, there is certainly a literal sense to the meaning. With summer in full bloom, the sun is shinin’ bright and that means it time to get together for family gatherings – most likely in the form of outdoor BBQ’s. But it’s hotter than ever outside making it both difficult and inconvenient and all the massive heat that comes from both gas and electric stoves makes this experience that much more dreadful. 

If you are like me, you have probably wondered if there were easier ways to enjoy cooking without all of the extra heat! Cooking without the extra heat is something that is unknown to the average American but now there is a way. 

General Electronics stated in a press release, “Although popular in European and Asian households and among professional chefs worldwide, induction cooking is still largely a mystery for many North American consumers.” With induction cooking, a current is produced when a steel or iron bottom pan is placed on the cook top, which has an electromagnetic element under its smooth surface. The current passes through the cook top and heats the pan and cooks the food inside. Nearly all the energy is transferred directly to the magnetic cookware and the food, making induction cooking quick and efficient. Because there is no residual heat from burners, cooking adjustments are nearly instantaneous and precise.” 

Essentially, all the heat is transferred to the actual pan and not the cooking surface. This provides a safer alternative as well as because no heat is transferred to a nonferrous object such as plastic, paper, cloth, or even a hand that touches the cooking area! This in turn creates a cooler and safer cooking environment that is also easy to clean.

The advent of new technologies is now allowing us a greener and cleaner way to do everyday things like cooking. So get ready for July 4th, put on your new summer outfit, and take the fun outdoors!

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP


Keywords: induction cooking, green cooking, green cookware, cooking easy, no heat, innovative cooking, eco-friendly cooking, july 4th cooking, cooking with less heat